PetArmor introduces FastAct flea and tick shampoo, spray

YARDLEY, Pa. — PetArmor is introducing two new products to retail shelves the company states will provide a "1-2-3 punch" to keep pets pest-free.

FastAct Flea and Tick Shampoo and Spray can be used to provide both immediate relief and long-term prevention of flea and tick infestations, FidoPharm, a science-based pet health company and makers of PetArmor, said.

The "1-2-3 punch" is a three-step process when pet owners first see the signs of fleas or ticks:

Step 1: At first sign of fleas or ticks, use FastAct Flea & Tick Shampoo. The shampoo contains pyrethrin, which is derived from flowers and kills fleas and ticks on contact while conditioning the pet’s coat and washing away the "flea dirt" that flea larvae need to survive. Pet parents should apply the shampoo all over, including the neck, chest, middle, hindquarters and legs, and paying special attention to the areas frequented by fleas including footpads, between toes, underbody areas and the base of the tail. FastAct Flea & Tick Shampoo is approved to use on dogs and cats over 12 weeks old.

Step 2: Next, use FastAct Flea & Tick Spray to target existing flea and tick infestations and protect specific areas of the home where pets may go. The spray kills and repels adult fleas, ticks and lice on contact, and kills flea eggs and larvae, inhibiting flea re-infestation for up to 100 days. The spray can be used directly on the pet and its environment, such as pet bedding, carpets, draperies, pet carriers and upholstery. FastAct Flea & Tick Spray is approved to use on dogs over six months old and cats over seven months old.

Step 3: Finally, to ensure fleas and ticks don’t return, apply PetArmor for Dogs, PetArmor for Cats or PetArmorPro Advanced for Dogs monthly. Both products contain the same No. 1 vet-recommended active ingredient, fipronil, found in Frontline Plus and Top Spot to kill fleas and ticks. PetArmorPro Advanced for Dogs also contains a second active ingredient to repel fleas, ticks and mosquitoes from biting in the first place.

FastAct Flea & Tick Shampoo and Spray retail for $11.99 and $14.99. Both are available at Walmart, Target and other major retailers nationwide. PetArmor for dogs and cats retails for $25 for a 3-month supply and is available at Walmart, Target and other major retailers nationwide. PetArmorPro Advanced is available for dogs of all sizes at Walmart and retails for $29 for a 3-month supply.

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Bartell Drugs purchases two new pharmacies

SEATTLE — Bartell Drugs has increased its store count by two following the purchase of two pharmacies.

The Seattle-based regional chain announced the purchase of the pharmacies — in Everett and Marysville, Wash. — from The Everett Clinic. Bartell will begin operating them on June 10, bringing its total number of stores to 60.

"The Everett Clinic is well-respected and shares many of our values regarding serving patients and customers," Bartell chairman and CEO George Bartell said. "The acquisition of these pharmacies allows both organizations to work together to strengthen their presence in Snohomish County."

Snohomish County is to the north of King County, where Seattle is located, and together with King and Thurston counties is part of Washington state’s Puget Sound region. Most of the pharmacists and technicians from The Everett Clinic will remain employed at the pharmacies following the transition.

ARLINGTON, Va. — The National Association of Chain Drug Stores has announced that, in written statements submitted for U.S. Senate and House of Representatives committee hearings this week, it noted the essential role of community pharmacy in the success of the 10-year-old Medicare Part D prescription drug program and urged program enhancements focused on the quality and affordability of care.

NACDS stated that it issued a statement for today’s hearing of the House Committee on Ways and Means Subcommittee on Health, titled “The President’s and Other Bipartisan Proposals to Reform Medicare.” NACDS also will provide a similar statement for Wednesday’s hearing of the Senate Special Committee on Aging, titled “10 Years Later: A Look at the Medicare Prescription Drug Program.”

“As the face of neighborhood healthcare, community pharmacies and pharmacists provide access to prescription medications and over-the-counter products, as well as cost-effective health services such as immunizations and disease screenings,” NACDS wrote. “Through personal interactions with patients, face-to-face consultations and convenient access to preventive care services, local pharmacists are helping to shape the healthcare delivery system of tomorrow – in partnership with doctors, nurses and others.”

NACDS commended Congress for including medication therapy management in Medicare Part D at its inception, and urged the advancement of legislation to improve this methodical approach to helping patients take medications safely and as prescribed. NACDS advocated for the Medication Therapy Management Empowerment Act of 2013 – H.R. 1024 in the House and S. 557 in the Senate – which would open MTM to Medicare Part D beneficiaries who suffer from one, rather than multiple, chronic disease.

NACDS described a study published in the January 2012 edition of Health Affairs, which identified the key role of retail pharmacies in providing MTM services. The study found that a pharmacy-based intervention program increased patient adherence for patients with diabetes, and that the benefits were greater for those who received counseling in a retail, face-to-face setting as opposed to a phone call from a mail order pharmacist.

NACDS also emphasized that the Congressional Budget Office in late 2012 announced steps to reflect in its cost-evaluation of legislative proposals the belief that better use of medications can generate savings by reducing reliance on costly forms of care. If generalized to the nation as a whole, just a 1% increase in medication use saves $1.7 billion in overall healthcare costs, or $5.76 per person. Also, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services in February 2013 released a study focused on Medicare beneficiaries with certain lung or heart conditions. Those enrolled in MTM services in 2010 – and particularly those who received comprehensive medication reviews – experienced significant improvement in the quality of their drug regimens and costs were saved. NACDS urged steps to incorporate the value of community pharmacy into emerging care models, such as accountable care organizations.

“Permitting pharmacists to practice to their maximum capabilities within these new delivery models would help increase medication adherence and coordination between healthcare settings, result in higher rates of vaccinations, and reduce the burden of the physician shortage, particularly with the influx of new patients in 2014 through the Healthcare Marketplaces and the expansion of Medicaid eligibility,” NACDS wrote. “As we move forward with the reform of the healthcare delivery system and improving Medicare, it is imperative for all healthcare providers to practice to their maximum capabilities, working in partnership to provide accessible, high-quality care to patients.”

NACDS also urged caution related to the growing role of preferred pharmacy networks in Medicare Part D.

“NACDS believes the choice of where to obtain prescription drugs and pharmacy services should be left to Medicare beneficiaries. In order to make an informed choice, it is important for beneficiaries to have clear information,” NACDS stated. “We applaud efforts by CMS to ensure beneficiaries are fully educated when making plan selections and do not make selections based on ambiguous information. NACDS recommends that all beneficiaries be given clear instructions that, regardless of plan selection, they still retain the right to have a prescription filled at the pharmacy of their choosing and are not required to obtain their prescriptions at a preferred network. Ensuring beneficiary awareness of this policy will lead to less confusion and will allow beneficiaries to continue to utilize the pharmacy of their choice.

“While beneficiary cost sharing may encourage the use of a preferred pharmacy, it should not be so significant as to disadvantage Medicare beneficiaries who rely on a pharmacy not in the preferred network. This may be particularly important in rural and urban areas, where beneficiaries would have to travel long distances to access preferred-network pharmacies.”

Pulitzer Prize-winner Peggy Noonan, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and singer Diana Ross now feature on the schedule for the National Association of Chain Drug Stores Annual Meeting, slated for April 21-24 in Palm Beach, Fla.

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